Air operated terminal insertion device

ABSTRACT

An air operated terminal insertion device comprising a first reciprocating member and a second reciprocating member which is attached to a double acting pneumatic cylinder and frictionally engages the first member concentrically to actuate the same. One of the members contains a stop which interacts with the other member to limit the axial movement therebetween. A pushrod is attached at one end to the second member and terminates at the other end in an inserter portion. The first member is provided with a transverse slot through which the terminals are fed for insertion, and elastic means on this member provide support for the terminal immediately prior to insertion by the inserter portion of the pushrod.

United States Patent Biederman et al.

[ 1 June 13, 1972 [54] AIR OPERATED TERMINAL INSERTION DEVICE [72] Inventors: Stuart J. Biederman, Floral Park; Walter E. Jezewski, Tuckahoe, both of NY.

North American Philips Corporation, New York, N .Y.

22 Filed: Feb. 27, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 14,998

[73] Assignee:

[52] U.S.Cl .:.....29/2038 [51] Int. Cl. ..H05k 13/04 [5 8] Field of Search ..29/203 B, 203 R, 203 DT, 203

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,302,274 2/1967 Stolz ..29/203 B Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Donald P. Gillette [57] ABSTRACT An air operated terminal insertion device comprising a first reciprocating member and a second reciprocating member which is attached to a double acting pneumatic cylinder and frictionally engages the first member concentrically to actuate the same. One of the members contains a stop which interacts with the other member to limit the axial movement therebetween. A pushrod is attached at one end to the second member and terminates at the other end in an inserter portion. The first member is provided with a transverse slot through which the terminals are fed for insertion, and elastic means on this member provide support for the terminal immediately prior to insertion by the inserter portion of the pushrod.

1 1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 13 I972 SHEET 10F 2 alllffrflfs INVENTORS STUART \I BIEDERMAN WALTER E. J'EZEWSKI BY 2 ATTORNEY PATENTEDJun 13 I972 \III J SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTORS STUART I B ER WALTER E. EW

* WWW/w ATTORNEY AIR OPERATED TERMINAL INSERTION DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to devices for inserting terminals into circuit elements or work pieces, and more particularly to reciprocating machines for semiautomatically inserting prefabricated terminals one at a time from a supply which may contain either single-extending or double-extending types of terminals with the same diameter, without any adjusting of the machine for each type of terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, certain automatic and semiautomatic terminal insertion devices have been complex and expensive due to the fact that they have been designed both to manufacture the terminal from a supply stock and then to insert the newly formed terminal into a circuit element or some other workpiece. The supply techniques for such machines have necessitated the use of complex feeding and orienting mechanisms so that a terminal would be cut from the supply stock and presented to the inserter portion of a device in proper orientation for accurate insertion. Furthermore, it has been found that such prior devices do not significantly reduce time and labor involved in applying terminals since the. operator of the machine is required to utilize the lead end of a terminal pin as a fixed guide to position the circuit board below the terminal so as to orient the hole in the board with the terminal. When the hole is aligned with the main diameter portion of the terminal, the device is actuated to drive the terminal into the hole.

Other prior art terminal insertion apparatus have been intended for inserting prefabricated terminals but have still had certain disadvantages. Generally, prefabricated terminals were fed into the inserting mechanism either by hand or in a chain-like arrangement where each terminal was attached to the preceding and following terminal by the stock material from which the terminal was formed. This arrangement gave rise to difficulties in changing either the length or the character of prefabricated terminals. For example, it may sometimes become desirable to insert several types of terminals either in the same workpiece or in alternate workpieces. One circuit board with whichthe present terminals may be used may require single-extending terminals which have relatively short contact elements while in another it may be necessary to install double-extending terminals with relatively long contact elements. It is desirable, therefore, to have a device which is capable of installing either type of terminal alternately, without having to adjust, or recalibrate, the machine to fit the dimensions of each type of terminal.

The present invention uses a double-acting air operated press to reciprocate a plunger which frictionally engages the inner surface area of a hollow cylinder forming part of a collar member, thereby to force the latter into a reciprocating action. Axial movement between the plunger and collar is limited by a stop on the plunger which interacts with the collar through a guide slot located on the latter. A pushrod is attached at one end to the plunger and terminates at the other end in a bored out inserter portion. A feed slot is provided on the collar in which tenninals are placed to be inserted into a circuit element or workpiece by the inserter portion. Elastic means on the collar, which may be in the fonn of a resilient band responsive to elements projecting into the insertion shaft, provides support for a terminal immediately prior to insertion. Pressure on the terminal by the pushrod forces a sufficient retraction of the elastic means to allow the terminal to pass through and into the board. The invention can be used with many types of terminals interchangeably, provided only that the diameter of the main body portion of the terminal, which is usually constructed of teflon or a like substance, remains substantially constant.

It may be seen therefore that double-extending or single-extending terminals of the same diameter may be inserted alternately without any readjustment of the machine. In the case of double-extending terminals, a bored-out recess on the end of the pushrod will receive and envelop an inwardly-directed contact element. Any orientation of a single extending terminal may be pemtitted, and the only proviso is that the diameter of that part of the terminal body which will be engaged by the inserter portion must at least substantially equal the diameter of the latter.

Another feature of the present invention is that it minimizes the labor which might be involved in aligning each of a series of circuit elements or workpieces with terminals for insertion. An adjustable anvil is provided and need be positioned only at the beginning of operation of the device in order to account for the degree of penetration of the terminal bodies into the workpieces. In operation, all that the operator need do is drop a terminal into the feed slot of the collar, position the workpiece on the anvil, and press the actuating switch. The only limiting factor to the number of tenninals that can be installed in a given period of time is the degree of dexterity and proficiency that an operator can achieve. I v

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for inserting terminal connectors which will alternately insert different types of terminals with the same diameter without any readjusting of the machine for each different type of terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for inserting terminal connectors in which terminals may be side loaded for insertion, either manually or automatically.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for inserting terminal connectors which significantly reduces the labor and skill required to initially align a preinsertion terminal with the circuit element or workpiece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Understanding of the present invention may beenhanced by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for inserting terminal connectors which device embodies the features of the present invention; 7

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, partly broken away, of the preactuated terminal alignment and inserting portions of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 showing the terminal alignment and inserting portions in the actuated position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the anvil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS hole 17 in a circuit board or workpiece 18. An anvil 19 is adjustably attached to the base 11 by means of a threaded portion 21 at one end of the anvil which is screwed into a hole in the base ,11 and is locked into any desired position by a loeknut 22. The height of the anvil with respect to the extended position of the pushrod may be adjusted simply by rotating the loeknut 22 to any desired position along the length of the threaded portion 21. The free end or tip 23 of the anvil extends through the hole 17 of the workpiece and serves both as a guide to position the hole accurately beneath a poised terminal and as a guide for the terminal during the inserting process, a function which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Surrounding the pushrod'14 is a reciprocating collar or sleeve 24 one end of which consists of an enlarged portion 26 that contains an axial slot 27 to engage and guide a stop 28 on the upper portion of the pushrod 14. As the pushrod is actuated by the pneumatic cylinder and begins to move downward toward the terminal 16, the stop 28 will slide along the slot 27 until it reaches the lower end, at which point the sleeve 24 will be carried along with the pushrod as the latter continues to move downward in order to complete the insertion of the terminal 16. I

The center portion 29 of the sleeve 24 has a substantially smaller diameter than does the portion 26, and it contains a slot 31 through which the terminals are fed one at a time for insertion by the pushrod 14. The portion 29 may be either integral with the portion 26 or attachedthereto.

The other end of the sleeve 24 consists of a nozzle assembly 32 which is preferably made of rubber but may be manufactured of any other appropriate material. The nozzle is attached to the sleeve portion 29 in a known way, for example,

by forcing it over a knurled or threaded portion, 30, which.

may be seen in FIG. 2, thereby frictionally to secure the tip in operating position. In general, the purpose of the tip 32 is to serve as a guide for the terminal 16 while it is being inserted. Pressure of the tip around the hole 17 of the workpiece serves to stabilize the latter, and the pliant construction of the tip effectively cushions the impact with the workpiece at the end of the insertion stroke.

Referring, for the moment to FIGS. 2 and 4, it may be seen that the pushrod 14 is attached to one end of an enlarged body portion or piston 33, which has a drive shaft 34 and is provided with at least a pair of ball bearings 36 which are intended to be the points of contact between the piston and the inner surface area of the sleeve 26. For reasons which will become apparent, the diameter of the piston 33 is designed to be only slightly less than that of the inner circumference of the sleeve portion 26, so that the former fits relatively snugly within the latter. The ball bearings 36 serve to enhance this relatively snug fit between the piston and the sleeve, while at the same time providingfor a relative freedom of axial'movement therebetween. The degree of force owing to this frictional contact must be such that any reciprocating movement of the piston 33 will result in a concurrent movement of the sleeve 24, in the absence of any external force acting on the sleeve, such as, for example, when the tip 32 comes into contact with the workpiece 18. When the downward movement of the sleeve 24 is intercepted by the workpiece 18, the piston 33 will continue to move downward until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 4, and the stop 28 on the piston 33 hits the end of the slot 27. This movement of the piston, relative to the sleeve, is sufficient to allow the pushrod 14 to insert the terminal.

It is important to note that the inserting end of the pushrod is bored out, as indicated by reference numeral 35. The purpose of this bore is to provide for insertion of a terminal that has a contact element extending in the direction of the pushrod. Such a terminal may be inserted without difficulty since the contact element will be enveloped by the bore as the pushrod descends. As stated above, the only requirement is that the body portion of the terminal have at least the same diameter as does the pushrod.

The sleeve portion 29 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to be a separate component from the sleeve 24, however, it is important to note that such construction is not necessary to the invention, and that whether the sleeves 24 and 29 are separate may only depend upon the exigencies of manufacturing this component.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the axis of the sleeve portion 29. As stated above, the terminals are fed one at a time through the feed slot 31 of the portion 29, and they are supported, prior to insertion, by three ball bearings 37 which extend through the side wall of the sleeve portion 29 and part way into the open shaft 38 at points spaced around the circumference. Elastic means 39, which may be in the form of a rubber elastic band, or any other suitably resilient material, is placed around the sleeve and over the outwardly projecting balls to press each of them inwardly enough so that a terminal which has been fed through the slot 31 will come to rest bearing against the balls, as shown in FIG. 3.

It may be seen, therefore, that pressure on the terminal 16 from the pushrod 14 during the insertion stroke will cause the balls 37 to be pushed radially outward, thereby to allow the terminal 16 to pass through. The elastic band 39 will push the balls radially inward after the temiinal passes, to return them to their previous rest positionready to receive and support another terminal.

It is important to note that this supporting scheme is not intended to be expressly limited to theembodiment illustrated, and the present invention is designed to encompassany form of supportive mechanism which includes elastic means responsive to elements which project into the insertion shaft.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevated view of the anvil tip 23, and illustrates that the tip has a centralbore 41. The tip 23 is movably positioned within the end of the anvil 19 and is biased in an axially extended position by an; interior spring (not shown). The diameter of the tip 23 is slightly less than that of the hole 17 in the workpiece 18, and it extends through the hole 17, as illustrated in FIG.,2, in order to aid in-aligning the hole with a terminal which has been placed for insertion. As the terminal descends under pressure from the pushrod, its projecting contact element will enter the bore 41 (seen best in FIG. 4), which will serve as a guide for proper alignment of the terminal as it is being inserted into the workpiece 18. The tip 23 will retract under pressure from the terminal thereby to allow the terminal to descend into the hole. When the workpiece 18 and its installed terminal are removed from the anvil, the internal spring will once again bias the tip 23 to its extended position so that it may serve as a guide for the insertion of another terminal. I

In operation then, terminals may be fed, one at a time, either by hand or automatically into the feed slot 31. Prior to actuation of the device, a tenninal willrest upon'those portions of the balls 37 which extend into the shaft 38 of the sleeve 29. When the operator actuates the device by depressing a button 42 which is shown in FIG. 1, and actually may be placed in any convenient location including, for example, on a footpedal, the piston 33 begins to descend and carries the sleeve 26 with it. The force of friction between the balls 36 and the inner surface of the sleeve 26 will not allow relative movement between these two components until the rubber nozzle assembly 32 impacts against the workpiece 18. When this impact occurs, the piston 33 continues to move downward and the pushrod 14 will insert the terminal 'in the hole 17 in the workpiece 18. When the stop 28 abuts against the lower end of the slot 27, all downward movement is halted and the double-acting pneumatic cylinder reverses to retract the mechanism so that another terminal may be fed into position by the operator. I

We claim:

1. An insertion device for inserting elongated components into holes in workpieces, said device comprising:

a. a first reciprocating member; I

b. a second reciprocating member concentric with said first member and engaging the same to actuate said first member;

c. energizing means to reciprocate said second member;

d. a stop on one of said members to engage the other member thereby to limit relative longitudinal movement therebetween;

e. a push rod attached at one end to said second member;

f. an opening in said first member to facilitate loading said components into said device; and

g. biased means on said first member to retain each of said components before said device is actuated, said biased means comprising a plurality of promontories to project into said first member, thereby to retain said components before said device is actuated.

2. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said promontories comprise: ball bearings that extend part way into said first member.

3. The insertion device of claim 1 in which the means to bias said promontories comprises: a rubberband around said first member as a sleeve to enclose said promontories.

4. The insertion device of claim 1 comprising, in addition: an adjustable anvil comprising a tip aligned with said pushrod and biased to an extended position.

5. The insertion device of claim 4 in which said tip comprises: centrally recessed portion to guide the load when said device is actuated.

6. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said first reciprocating member comprises: a hollow cylindrical sleeve the interior diameter of which successively changes along the length thereof.

7. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said second reciprocating member comprises: a piston frictionally to engage the interior surface area of said first member, thereby to reciprocate said first member when said piston is energized.

8. The insertion device of claim 7 comprising, in addition: means to facilitate relative movement between said piston and said first member when the movement of said first member is interrupted.

i 9. The insertion device of claim 8 in which said means to facilitate relative movement between said piston and said first member comprises: a plurality of ball bearings on one of said members.

10. The insertion device of claim 9 in which said ball bearings are mounted on said second member.

11. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said stop is located on said second member and engages a longitudinal slot on said first member thereby to limit longitudinal movement between said first and second members.

l 1 l i 

1. An insertion device for inserting elongated components into holes in workpieces, said device comprising: a. a first reciprocating member; b. a second reciprocating member concentric with said first member and engaging the same to actuate said first member; c. energizing means to reciprocate said second member; d. a stop on one of said members to engage the other member thereby to limit relative longitudinal movement therebetween; e. a push rod attached at one end to said second member; f. an opening in said first member to facilitate loading said components into said device; and g. biased means on said first member to retain each of said components before said device is actuated, said biased means comprising a plurality of promontories to project into said first member, thereby to retain said components before said device is actuated.
 2. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said promontories comprise: ball bearings that extend part way into said first member.
 3. The insertion device of claim 1 in which the means to bias said promontories comprises: a rubberband around said first member as a sleeve to enclose said promontories.
 4. The insertion device of claim 1 comprising, in addition: an adjustable anvil comprising a tip aligned with said pushrod and biased to an extended position.
 5. The insertion device of claim 4 in which said tip comprises: centrally recessed portion to guide the load when said device is actuated.
 6. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said first reciprocating member comprises: a hollow cylindrical sleeve the interior diameter of which successively changes along the length thereof.
 7. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said second reciprocating member comprises: a piston frictionally to engage the interior surface area of said first member, thereby to reciprocate said first member when said piston is energized.
 8. The insertion device of claim 7 comprising, in addition: means to facilitate relative movement between said piston and said first member when the movement of said first member is interrupted.
 9. The insertion device of claim 8 in which said means to facilitate relative movement between said piston and said first member comprises: a plurality of ball bearings on one of said members.
 10. The insertion device of claim 9 in which said ball bearings are mounted on said second member.
 11. The insertion device of claim 1 in which said stop is located on said second member and engages a longitudinal slot on said first member thereby to limit longitudinal movement between said first and second members. 